Keeping true to your island roots

Bonitan Tasi Design’s bestselling slides. (Contributed Photos)

Setting up the online store Bonitan Tasi Design a few month ago was a way for Christi Warn to nurture her creativity and is a modern way for her to sustain her island roots.

Born and raised in Guam, Warn’s parents and grandparents—both maternal and paternal—hail from the CNMI and her online shop enables her to keep in touch with her roots here.

She said the online business actually began as a way for her to relax after a busy day at school. Now a fourth-year college student working on her degree in business administration, Warn said that Bonitan Tasi Design got off the ground when she started designing custom-made products for herself and her family.

“Designing is my way of releasing stress from schoolwork. I’m self-taught in both photography and designing and, through the infusion of both, it is where my product designs come from,” said Warn.

She then posted her designs on social media and that led to family and friends encouraging her to sell her products online.

“At first, I thought many people would not like them because they are different. But my family kept encouraging me that I should because of that fact,” she said.

Bonitan Tasi Design’s handbag designs.

Warn, who lives in Washington state, first dabbled in shirts, sandals, mugs, wine glass, and keychains with a Guam theme. However, a little prodding from her mother led her to adopt CNMI-themed products as well.

“My whole goal is to provide products to islanders here in the U.S. who are proud of their heritage and enjoy showing it,” she said.

So far, Bonitan Tasi Design’s bestsellers are its slides that have floral designs with Saipan, Tinian, Luta, and Guam emblazoned on them.

The online shop has now branched out to making sneakers, bags, and car seat covers with the now familiar island theme the CNMI and Guam are known for.

Why did she name her online business Bonitan Tasi? Warn said she wanted something that reflects where she come from and as a tribute to her late brother.

“The name ‘bonitan tasi’ means beautiful ocean. It’s something that reflects home because we have such beautiful beaches and I also named it in memory of Glenn.”

Warn’s online store can be found on the internet at https://bonitantasipd.com/collections or on Facebook. Means of payment are through either credit card or PayPal.

Bonitan Tasi Design has now branches out to selling sneakers.